Automobile tool



Nov. 6 7 '1923.I

M. MCINTYRE AUToMoBILE TOOL Filed April 13, 1922 JN VEN KH M ML-NTYRE flI llfatented Nov. 6, 1923..

MILES MCINTYRE, OF HEALDSBUBJG, CALIFORNIA..

i AUTOMOBIL'E TOOIi. I

Application filed April 13, 1922. Serial No. 552,195.

To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Minns MoIN'rYRn, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Healdsburg, county of Sonoma and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Automobile Tool, of which the following is aspecificaton.

The present invention relates to improvements in automobile tools andhas particular reference to a tool for replacing transmission covers onFord cars. The general structure of the Ford transmission is well knownand comprises in its principal features three bands mounted on drums andadapted to prevent rotary motion of their respective drums whencompressed by means of foot pedals, the three bands representingvforward motion, reverse, and brake. The shafts connected with the pedalsand actuating the drums are mounted in the transmission cover, and whenthe latter has been removed for repairing purposes the bands restloosely on their respective drums, and it is diflicult to get themproperly lined and in firm engagement with the drums so as to renderpossible the replacing of the cover. whole ciroumference of the drumsand terininate in radially extending forks adapted to engage the shaftsin the transmission cover. The latter shafts are (surrounded by coilsprings which fit between the forks referred'to and serve the purpose ofpressing the forks apart, thereby releasing the grip of the bands ontheir respective drums when the foot pedals are released. When the coveris to be replaced these Springs must be compressed to allow them to beinserted between the forks of the bands.V

It is the object of the present invention to provide convenient toolsfor the proper alinement of the forks as well as for they compression ofthe springs which may be Secured in their respective places' before thecover is replaced, and may be removed after the operation is completed.

With these objects in view I have illustrated the preferred form of myinvention in the accompanyng drawing, in which Figure 1 represents aside elevation of the compressing tool in its position with reference totheI bands; Figure 2 an'end elevation of the same; Figure 3 a top planview of the transmission drums and bands, the latter being shown asproperly alined by means of myV clampingy tool; Figure 4 a The bands donot extendaround the ,detail view of my clainping tool, and F igure 5another detail view of the Vsame tool looking at it from the end.l/Vhile I have of'tongs (2) and joined at one end' by means of the pin(4), a spring (6) tending to push the tongs apart while a lever (7) isused to force the tongs together. The latter is pivotally mounted asshown ut (8) between two guide members (9) rigidly secured to one of thetongs by means of a pin (11), and is provided with a cam (12) engagingthe outside of the other tong so that it forces the two tongs togetherif its handle (13) is moved from a horizontal position into Vthevertical position shown in Figure 1.

The lower ends of the tongs terminate in parallel flat plates (111)provided at their lower extremities with registering recesses (16)adapted to eng'age the shafts (17) actuated by the foot pedals, notshown in the drawing, at opposite ends of the springs (18) so that thelatter springs may be compresse'd when the lever handle (13) is movedupward.

A particularly novel feature of my com- Lpressing tool are the centeringrods (19) which serve the purpose of maintaining the compressed Springsin a osition mid-ways between the abutments 21) of the transmissioncover and the confining nuts (22). The latter rods penetrate the plates(14) in transverse direction and are adapted to slide in theperforations (23). They are provided with suitable heads at both ends soas to limit the opening of the tongs beyond a desired degree. At leastthree of these rods should be provided to insure perfect operation. Itwill be reinembered that these rods are slidably mounted in the platebut this sliding motion is limited by means of collars (26)'provided onthe rods between the tongs in such a manner that the central rod isallowed to slide freely through one of the tongs only, while the twooutside rods are allowed to slide through the other tong only so thatwhen the tongs are compressed the head of thev central rod will beforced to one side engaging the central abutment (21) previouslymentioned, while the heads of the two other rods are forced into theopposite direction engaging the nuts (22). If all the rods are of thesame length the compressed springs will be forced into a centralposition relative to the abutments (21) and the nuts (22).

Looking at the tool as Vpresented in Figure 1, it will be seen that Whenthe tongs are put in their proper place the lifting of the lever handle(13) will develop a tendency for the right hand tong to be lifted out ofits place, and to prevent this I provide ahook (27) adapted to engagethe central shaft (17) as soon as the operator begins to press on thelever. This result is brought about in the following manner:

The perforations (23) engaging the heads (24) of the rods .(19) arecountersunk and the heads tapered so as to register with the countersunkperforations and to slightly project beyond the surface of the plates(14). The hook (27) is pivotally mounted on the outside of the plate.(14) by means ofa pin (28), and has an extension (29) carrying atapered lug (31) held in engagement with one of-the heads (24) by meansof a spring (32). Normally the hook (27) is disposed in such a mannerthat it will clear the central shaft (17) Vwhen the tool is put in itsplace. But as soon as the operator begins to force the lever handle (13)upward the heads (24) of the rods (19) lose their firm contact with thecountersunk holes (23), and the tapered lug (31) at the end of theextension (29) is then fo-rced downwardly between the head (24) of therod and the plate (14), which motion causes the hook (27) to catch thecentral shaft (17) from below and to prevent the tilting of the tool.

The second tool necessary to complete the operation is the clamp (36)illustrated in Figures 3 to 5. It is very simple in its construction andcomprises merely two L- shaped metal members (37) and (38), the twohorizontal beams (39) of which lie flat against each other while theIvertical beams (41) extend in spaced and parallel relation. Thehorizontal members (39) are held together by means of a coil springwhicli allows of longitudinal motion of the horizontal arms relative toeach other, but prevents angular motion. Suitable transverse projections(44) prevent the horizontal members from being withdrawn and alsovfurnishes convenient holds for the fingers .of the operator, enablinghim to compress the spring (43). The advantage of this construction willappear immediately. The operator may set the two arms (41) as far apartas is necessary to allow ythem to engage the forks (46) extendingradially from the bands (47). After all these forks which :are intendedto receive the shafts (17) in inr/3,114

the transmission cover previously referred to are conined between theltwo vertical beains (41)7 the operator mayforce them .togetherlny-applying pressure on the horibands tendiiig to force the two beams(41) f apart will apply their pressure in the wrong place and willdevelop a tendency only vfor the horizontal beams (39) to move angularlyrelative to each other, which motion can be successfully stopped' by acomparatively light spring The whole operation should be easilyunderstood from the foregoing description. To replace the transmissioncover the operator first revolves the transmission bands so that theprongs (46) are approximately alined With each other, sets his clamp soas 'to comfortably span all the -forks and applies the same. Afterforcing the vertical beanis together 'the bands will be irmly held in aproper position to receive the sliafts (17-) of the transmission cover.The operator now applies his tongs to the shafts (17)7 compressing thesprings so that the latter occupy a position midways between theabutments (21) and the nuts when the cover may be moved into its placewithout any difliculty. The removal of the. tools completes theoperation. i

I claim: v

1. Means for compi'essing a plurality of springs mounted on parallelshafts comprising a pair of toiigs pivotally connected at one end andterminating in flat and paralleljaws, having spaced recesses thereinadapted to engage the Springs at opposite ends, two guiding members forone of said tongs straddling rigidlysecured to the other and having alever pivoted' therebetween for forcing the tongs together whereby theysprings are compressed,rand spring means the tongs together whereby theSprings are i conipressed and means associated with the jaws forcentering the same relative to the stationarj,7 eleinents. i 1

3. Means for compressing a plui'ality of Springs mounted on parallelshafts between stationaryV elements, compi'ising a pair of pivotallyconnected tongs terminating at one 4 end in flat and parallel jawshaving spaced recesses therein adapted to engagel the V Springs atopposite ends, ineansforlforcing the tongs together whereby the SpringsareV compressed and means associated with the jaws for cenftering thesame relative to the stationary elements comprising transverse pinsSecured in either jaw and slidably extending through the other jaw so asto engage the opposing stationary element.

ll. Means for eompressing a plurality of springs mounted on parallelshafts between stationary elements, comprisng a pair of pivotallyconnected tongs terminating at one end in iiatl and parallel aws adaptedto engage the springs at opposite ends, means for foroing the tongstogether whereby the springs are compressed, transverse pins secured ineither jaw and slidably extending through the other jaw so as to engagethe opposing stationary element and to thereby center the jaw, andspring-aotuated lever means for seeuring one of the jaws to a shaft andpermitted to operate when the jaws are compressed.

5. An adjustable clamp, comprising two- L-shaped members having theirvertical heams disposed in spaced relation and their horizontal beamsalongside each other, and a coiled spring wound on the latter two beamsallowing of their longitudinal motion relative to each other only whenaotuated along said longitudinal line.

6. An adjustable clamp, comprising two L-shaped members having theirvertical beams disposed in spaced relation and their horizontal beamsalongside each other, and a coiled spring. Wound on the latter two beamsallowing of their longitudinal motion relative to each other only whenactuated along said longitudinal line, transverse studs at the end ofeither horizontal beam facilitating the manual operation of the device.

7. Means for compressing a plurality of springs mounted on parallelshafts between stationary elements, comprising a pair of tongs adaptedto engage the springs at opposite ends, means for forcing the tongstogether whereby the springs are compressed and means associated withthe tongs for centering the same relative to the stationary elements,comprising transverse pins Secured in either tong and slidably extendingthrough the other tong so as to engage the opposing statonary element.

S. Means for compressing a plurality of springs mounted on parallelshafts between stationary elements, comprising a pair of tongs adaptedto engage the springs at opposite ends, means for forcing the tongstogether whereby the springs are compressed, transverse pins Secured ineither tong and slidably extending through the other tong so as toengage 'the opposing stationary element and to thereby center the tongsand spring actuated lever means forsecuring one of the tongs to theshaft and permitted to operate when the tongs are compressed.

MILES MCINTYRE.

